Passenger Transport Express - 05/11/2018 (Plain Text Version)NEWS HEADLINESTampa Welcomes APTA Bus Conference & Roadeo
APTA's successful Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo attracted 1,838 attendees to Tampa, FL, May 6-9. APTA Chair Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., chief executive officer of the Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority, opened the conference and thanked Jeff Seward, interim chief executive officer, Hillsborough Area Regional Transport (HART); Brad Miller, chief executive officer, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA); and their staffs for hosting the conference and roadeo. Conference highlights included an FTA session featuring Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams, who discussed federal funding for public transportation and the agency’s support for industry innovation; the Products & Services Showcase and Bus Display with 135 vendors and 20 vehicles; the International Bus Roadeo; and sessions on topics including such new bus technologies as zero-emission engines and automated vehicles, the role of transportation during emergencies, how public transit can deal with human trafficking, and procurement issues. Click here to view NBC News Ch8 coverage of the event. Reinforcing public transit’s leading role in the shifting transportation paradigm, Ford remarked how: “We are going through one of the most transformative periods in our industry since the advent of the automobile. New service models, private rideshare companies and innovative technologies like autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles will redefine how we operate, how we think and how we serve our communities.” View a Fox 13 News interview with Ford at the International Bus Roadeo here. APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas noted that this was one of the largest turnouts in anybody’s memory for an APTA Bus Conference. Skoutelas told the audience that public transportation is a healthy, vitally important and growing industry. “Very few people realize the enormity of what public transportation does on a daily basis to get people where they need to go,” he said. At the Opening General Session on Monday, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Florida state Sen. Jeffrey Brandes (R) welcomed APTA, joining Seward and Miller. Keynote speaker Gabe Klein discussed the trends that are defining a new role for public transportation, and highlighted critical issues to be addressed by public transit leaders including innovation, communication, collaboration, complete streets policies and more. The International Bus Roadeo top winners are: FTA Apportionments
FTA has posted online its annual apportionments. FTA apportionments distribute $13.4 billion for public transportation in fiscal year 2018 pursuant to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141, Division L). The funding includes formula and competitive funding for FTA grant recipients. [return to top] National Infrastructure Week Coming Up!
APTA is an affiliate organization in the fifth annual National Infrastructure Week, May 14-21. This week of events, media coverage, education and advocacy efforts is designed to elevate infrastructure, including public transportation, as a critical issue impacting all Americans. Other participating organizations include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, Building America's Future and the AFL-CIO. National Infrastructure Week will provide an opportunity for your local system or business to continue to call attention to the urgent need to invest, maintain and expand public transportation. APTA's National Infrastructure Week resources can be found here. If you would like to share your activities, please contact Chad Chitwood at cchitwood@apta.com or 202-496-4841. [return to top] Another State Achieves SSO Certification
FTA has announced that West Virginia has obtained federal certification of its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, in advance of an April 15, 2019, deadline. West Virginia joins Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Utah, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia and Colorado in meeting the deadline for FTA certification, bringing the total to 12 out of 30 states or territories with rail transit systems. Federal law requires states with rail transit systems in the engineering or construction phase of development or in operation to obtain FTA certification of their SSO programs by April 15, 2019. If a state fails to meet the deadline, FTA is prohibited by law from awarding any new federal transit funds to public transit agencies within the state until certification is achieved. [return to top] Rescission Request Affects Public Transportation
The administration has proposed to rescind $15.4 billion from 38 prior-year appropriations, including $100 million of public transit formula grants and intercity passenger rail competitive grants. The president also proposes to rescind $179 million of prior-year highway funding. Rescissions are cuts to Federal funding. On May 9, House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) introduced the administration's rescission package as H.R. 3, the "Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act". The House may consider the bill in the near future. As noted in a recent Legislative Alert, APTA recommends that, rather than rescind funds for public transportation and intercity passenger rail, these funds be used to address the current $90 billion state-of-good-repair backlog. Proposed rescissions include: FTA: FRA: View the specific proposed rescissions to FTA Formula Grants and FRA Intercity Passenger Rail Grants. [return to top] New DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Guidance Documents
U.S. DOT's Office of General Counsel has approved three new guidance documents related to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program: Compliance with Requirements for Timely Processing of Certification Applications, Guidance on State or Local MWBE Program Contract Goals, and Prompt Payment Section Sample Template. Access the documents here. [return to top] SAVE THE DATE
International Rail Rodeo There is less than a month until the start of APTA's 2018 International Rail Rodeo! Don't miss this renowned skills test as operators and maintainers vie for top honors! Join the discussion on the changing mobility paradigm and innovations in rail transit. Take advantage of unparalleled networking opportunities while exploring six tracks of study designed for urban, commuter, intercity passenger, and high-speed rail modes. New: keynote speaker Greg Williams, editor in chief of WIRED. If you've not already done so, click here to register for the American Public Transportation Foundation's annual Golf Fundraiser, held during the conference. [return to top] IN THE MEDIA
Sweepstakes Winner at APTA Conference—Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol found winner—Anne Bauman, member of the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority's Board of Directors—at APTA's Bus & Paratransit Conference! DC Considers Bus Lane Cameras—Drivers in the District could soon see automated enforcement of bus lanes, in addition to existing red light and speed camera tickets. Free Wi-Fi on Buses in Gwinnett County—The entire fleet of Gwinnett County (GA) Transit buses has been outfitted with equipment enabling Wi-Fi while the vehicles are on the road. New Science Channel Series on Railroads—Premiering Thursday, May 17, Impossible Engineering: Extreme Railroads shines a light on the world's most extraordinary rail systems. Finalists Audition for Music Under New York—MTA Arts & Design announces that 82 musicians and groups have been invited to audition this year for the Music Under New York (MTA MUSIC) program. Reporters Ride Every Muni Line in 18 Hours—San Francisco Chronicle reporters Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight ride every Muni line in one day. [return to top] |